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Facebook removes nearly 800 QAnon groups over safety fears

Facebook removed hundreds of QAnon conspiracy groups over concerns that they could threaten public safety. The social-media giant said Wednesday it took down more than 790 groups, 100 pages and 1,500 ads linked to the conspiracy theorist movement. Facebook has also blocked more than 300 hashtags and imposed restrictions on more than 1,950 groups, 440 …

Facebook removed hundreds of QAnon conspiracy groups over concerns that they could threaten public safety.

The social-media giant said Wednesday it took down more than 790 groups, 100 pages and 1,500 ads linked to the conspiracy theorist movement.

Facebook has also blocked more than 300 hashtags and imposed restrictions on more than 1,950 groups, 440 Facebook pages and over 10,000 Instagram accounts in an effort to limit the spread of QAnon content, which includes baseless claims of a conspiracy between Democrats and pedophiles.

The actions by Facebook were part of a broader crackdown on groups that have celebrated violence, shown intent to use weapons or have followers with “patterns of violent behavior.”

The company said it also removed more than 980 groups, 520 pages and 160 ads linked to militia groups and organizations that encourage riots, “including some who may identify as Antifa.”

“These movements and groups evolve quickly, and our teams will follow them closely and consult with outside experts so we can continue to enforce our policies against them,” Facebook said in a blog post.

Twitter announced its own crackdown on QAnon last month in which it reportedly removed more than 7,000 accounts and pledged to stop recommending content and accounts linked to the group.

A man wearing a T-shirt supportive of QAnon participates in a “Back the Blue” rally in Brooklyn, New York.

REUTERS

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a GOP congressional candidate, is accusing Facebook of “censorship” after the social media giant took down her campaign video targeting Antifa and promoting gun violence.

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But that hasn’t stopped the movement from gaining traction. QAnon-supporting businesswoman Marjorie Taylor Green won the Republican nomination for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District last week, and former national security adviser Michael Flynn shared a video of himself on the Fourth of July swearing allegiance to the group.

Facebook’s announcement came hours before President Trump made his first public comments about QAnon.

“These are people that don’t like seeing what’s going on in places like Portland and places like Chicago and New York and other cities and states. And I’ve heard these are people that love our country,” the president said, in response to a reporter’s question.

The FBI last year classified QAnon as a domestic terrorism threat.

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